See all sessions presented by Beth Buelow

Creative Contrarianism: Daring to be Different

There are lots of reasons to embrace abstraction in our photography. It offers tremendous creative freedom. It allows us to make images anywhere. Breaking the "rules" can bring back a sense of play and fun. But—and it's a pretty big BUT—there’s a barrier that can hold us back. When we’re venturing into any level of abstraction, we’re going to encounter the tension inherent with being different in a world that prefers the familiar (even though we hear over and over, "think differently!"). Through an examination of the mental and creative consequences of going against the grain, we'll explore what it means to be a creative contrarian and what we can do to make peace with the stand out/fit in tension.

Seeing Something in Everything

What's the best way to prepare yourself for once-in-a-lifetime photography opportunities? Practice, practice, practice. And what’s the best way to get the most practice? To see something in everything. The process of creating an image you love starts long before you pick up your camera; there’s an “inner game” to play and an openness to cultivate. We’re going to explore what it means to create location-agnostic, personally meaningful images wherever you happen to be. Using intimate landscapes and abstract examples, we’ll look at how to move through blocks that prevent us from seeing the full potential in everything around us. You’ll come away inspired by ideas and techniques to creatively capture both the everyday and the epic.

Creating Personally Iconic Imagery (Epic Location Not Required)

There's a drive nature photographers share to seek out and capture the iconic landmarks and vistas. After all, those scenes are likely part of what drew us to landscape photography in the first place. But as popular locations become more crowded and vulnerable, we're challenged to temper that drive and seek out new horizons. Instead of relying on photographing iconic locations, what if we focused on creating more personally iconic images? We'll turn a few definitions on their head and look at how to release "epic location FOMO" in service to creating a body of work that reflects your distinct vision.

Meet Beth Buelow

Beth is a Michigan-based artist, coach, and educator specializing in abstract and minimalist photography. Beth's creative philosophy is simple: If you’re not amazed, you’re not paying attention.

Her work doesn’t fit into one genre or subject, as she aims to reflect the incredible world around us. Inspired by Walt Whitman’s words, "I am large, I contain multitudes," Beth's photography explores themes of calm, order, mystery, balance, and experimentation. These elements may seem at odds, but they reflect the complexity of her creativity.